Gordon Parks Museum / Center for Culture and Diversity

The Gordon Parks Museum highlights the life and work of Kansas-born photographer Gordon Parks. Exhibits, personal artifacts, and iconic photographs tell the story of his life from his humble beginning in Fort Scott to his death in New York City in 2006. He became the first African-American photojournalist to work for LIFE magazine and the first African-American to direct a major Hollywood production (The Learning Tree, 1968). Besides being a photographer and filmmaker, he was also a writer, poet, and composer. This 3000 square foot museum, located in the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, houses his work and personal effects such as his desk, clothing, cameras, etc. The Museum sponsors the annual Gordon Parks Celebration each fall where a distinguished person is honored with the “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award.”